Vehicle top cover and method



im 31, 1939. J. E 'HOPER www VEHICLE ToiD COVER AND METHOD I Filed April 2, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 31, 1939. J, EA HOOPR 214mm VEHICLE TOP COVER AND METHOD Filed April 2, 1957 `3 sheets-sheet 2 w, w, n w M4, va; ny, D' l E G H I C D E 1939. J. E. HOOPER VEHICLE Tor COVER AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fiied April 2, `1957 Patented Jan. 3l, 1939 UNTED STATES allant PATENT OFFlE .lames Edward Hooper,

Ruxton, Md., assignor to Wm. E. Hooper & Sons Company, a corporation oi Maryland Application April 2, 1937, Serial No. 134,553

6 Claims.

The invention relates to vehicle top covers and has particular reference to covering the type of top which is of most frequent occurrence in connection with camp or touring trailers which are of sharply convex contour, particularly at the rear corners. These corners are of a contour more or less closely approaching the corresponding sections of a sphere.

The material previously used for this purpose is cotton duck. With this material the covering oi such tops, particularly the corners mentioned, has presented important diiculties mcident to stretching the material over the corners so as to avoid wrinkles or creases in. the nished top. This diiiiculty can be overcome by cutting and tting the material, but the trade demands one-piece top coverings.

To accomplish this purpose and avoid wrinkles in covering the corners, the material has been stretched over the corners by means of a block and tackle. In other words, the necessary degree of stretch requires much more tension than can be applied by hand. This stretching process is relatively slow and expensive and the degree of tension applied tends to pull the fastenings. Time and expense in applying the top coverings are important items.

The present invention is based on the discovery by this inventor that fabrics oi cotton and similar materials of the same weight and thickness as the cotton duck previously used for this purpose can be stretched by hand and laid hat over this type of top of sharply convex and/or nearly spherical curvature at the corners, dispensing with the stretching under extreme tension by block and tackle and other mechanical means which have been necessary in the past. In this way a top coverl which is more satisfactory than those applied according to the previous practice is applied much more quickly and with less eilort and expense. This is further accomplished without straining the material, which was a difficulty with the duck covered tops of this type that resulted in weakness and porosity of the nished top.

The application of the fabric oi the kind to be described to the formation oi one-piece top covers to provide for stretching the material over sharply curved portions, particularly over the sharply curved rear corners which are described with a fair degree of accuracy as sharply convex or spherically curved, is believed to be a new application of this material, the various forms of which are similar as to certain points to be described; and this application is found to accomplish an important new result in that the covering material is applied under a greatly reduced tension, avoiding wrinkling and creasing of the material and avoiding excess tension` and the use of mechanical means for this purpose, which often results in tearing.

Weaves which are found to be applicable have the common property that the material, while it offers full resistance to stretching in the direction of the warp or in the direction oi the filling, is stretched with comparative ease on a diagonal line, or on the bias and, being thus capable of stretching on the bias more than in a longitudinal direction or transversely, it is adapted to stretch over and cover the sharply curved portions of the top, particularly at the rear corners, without excessive tension and without wrinkling.

The weaves which are excessively elastic on the bias and adapted for use in the covering of `vehic1e tops of sharply convex curvature, having portions aproaching a section oi a sphere, are included in two denitions which less specifically worded may be brought within the terms of a single definition. The fabric in both instances comprises longitudinal warp and transverse filling threads interwoven in such a manner that each warp thread passes alternately over two or more iilling threads and then under two or more filling threads, and in other instances the filling threads pass alternately over two or more and then under two or more warp threads, it being understood that the weave is repeated and continued in this way to produce the desired length of uniform fabric of the necessary width, preferably to give a single-piece top cover.

To include these fabrics in a single definition thus applied to the cover of convexedly curved vehicle tops, it may be said that the fabric is composed of longitudinal warp threads and transverse filling threads, the threads running in either direction being passed alternately over and under two of the threads extendingin the opposite direction, the construction being repeated throughout the length and width of the cloth.

The various constructions produced in this way have the same desirable characteristic of diagonal elasticity or excessive elasticity on the bias and, while there is a difference in the surface appearance between the various weaves produced in this way, there is a community of principle of weave and diagonal elasticity which is apparently due to the bending of the warp threads about two weft threads or Vice-Versa, which provides for stretching on the bias or in the direction of the diagonal without actual change in length of the threads.

One variety of fabric produced in this way has diagonal ribs due to the exposure on the surface of the portions of the warp which overly; i. e., pass over, two filling threads on the surface or surfaces exposed to view, and the fabric is found to stretch to best advantage in the direction of these ribs tho it is also excessively elastic in the direction of the opposite diagonal.

In order, therefore, to provide a one-piece top which will stretch to best advantage over both of the rear corners of the top, the direction of the weave is changed at the longitudinal center line so that the ribs meet at an angle at this center line, giving a converging rib pattern.

The fabric made in this way is to best advantage placed on the top with the center line, where the ribs meet at an angle, in the center of the top, running in a fore and aft direction as related to the vehicle and, by stretching the material in the direction of these ribs, the convex curves at the corners are covered under slight tension of the fabric without wrinkling.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated diagrammatically several different fabrics woven in accordance with the weaving principle above defined which serve as examples of the different fabrics to which the invention relates. I have also illustrated fragmentarily a trailer top of the type which presents in covering the problems which are solved by the invention, and have further illustrated a top covered by and with the preferred fabric in the manner above outlined.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagram of the single-piece top fabric of the preferred form in which the diagonal ribs meet at an angle on the longitudinal center line of the fabric.

Figure 2 is a perspective view on a highly magnied scale of a fragment of this fabric at and immediately on both sides of the center line, the threads being separated for convenience of illustration.

Figure 3 is a similar view on the same scale showing the same diagonal rib weave without the change of direction at the center line of the fabric as in Figure 2; i. e., all the ribs are parallel.

Figure 4 is ,a diagram similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing still another arrangement of the weave in which the warp goes alternately over and under two filling threads as in Figures 2 and 3, the harness being operated in different order producing a non-ribbed effect which is referred to as an example of a satisfactory oonstruction.

Figure 5 is a similar diagram showing a fabric in which the warps, in pairs of parallel warps, are passed alternately over one and under one filling thread, the filling threads, however, being passed alternately over two and under two warp threads.

Figure 6 is a similar diagram showing the warps in pairs as in Figure 5, but passed alternately over two and under two filling threads, the filling threads being likewise passed alternately over two and. under two warp threads.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the portion of a trailer top which is covered with fabric and having the corners, particularly the rear corners of convex curvature approaching and resembling the curvature of the corresponding section of a sphere, the remainderof the body of the vehicle below the fabric-covered top being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a trailer top showing the manner of covering the same with the preferred fabric for this purpose illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it being understood that with the other fabrics applied in accordance with the invention it is not essential to have a change of weave at the center line, the latter being the preferred arrangement.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts on the different figures, the fabric Figures l and 2, which is the preferred fabric for the purposes of the invention, may be described as having a center line AA in Figure 1 extending in the direction of the warp and preferably located half way between the lateral edges of the fabric. The center warp, which extends substantially along this line, is indicated by reference character i in Figure 2. The weft threads are indicated in a general way by reference characters B, C, D, E, F, G, I-I, I, the warp threads on the far side of the center warp l being indicated by reference characters 4, 4', and. 4".

Beginning at the right in Figure 2, the center warp l passes over the rst filling I, under the next two fillings H, G, over the next two, under the next two, and over the last filling B. The

warp thread 4, on the other hand, passes over the first two fillings I, H, under the next two, over the next two, and under the last two. The warp 4 passes under the first filling I, over the next two fillings, under the next two fillings, over the next two, and under the last.

Progressing upwardly and away from the observer, and away from the center warp l in Figure 2, each warp thread-4, 4', and 4" may be described as beginning its cycle a step ahead of the next previous one; and progressing downwardly and toward the observer from the center warp I, each of the Warp threads-3, 3', 3" begins its cycle a Step ahead of the next previous one, giving ribs in the surface of the cloth formed by the raised portions of the warp threads where they span two fillings and' thus project above or below the normal surface of the fabric, as indicated by reference character 5, 5' etc., which ribs converge at the center warp thread l. The filling threads B, C, and D etc. in this construction pass over two and under two warp threads alternately except at the center Where, as at B, there is a change of weave; but the exact nature of the weave at the center warp, which occurs but once in connection with a single warp thread, is not of great importance except that it marks the change of direction of the ribs 5 and 5' of this fabric, the important point being that this fabric is composed of warp and filling, the warp going alternately overand under two fillings and the portions where the warp is exposed on top of two fillings being preferably in alinernent in a direction inclined to both the warp and lling and converging at the center warp.

The invention is based on the discovery that this type of fabric is possessed of an excessive ability to stretch on the bias; i. e., in the direction of the diagonal, and particularly in the direction of the ribs 5 and 5 formed by the bent portions of the warp which span the pairs of lling threads, as B, C, or E, D, etc., and are thus exposed above the main portion of the surface of the fabric; and that this property of the fabric adapts it to covering the type of top described, by

stretching by hand at low tension and` without wrinkling.

The fabric shown in Figure 3 on a highly magnied scale with the warp and weft spread apart and separated for convenience of illustration, is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 except that the ribs indicated by reference characters I are continuous, being diagonally placed; i. e., at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to the filling threads B, C, D, E, F, G, I-I, and I. The warp threads 1, 8, 9, IB, l I, in this instance go alternately over and then under two filling threads, each warp being a step ahead of the next as previously described, producing the diagonal rib effect with all the ribs parallel and in one direction instead of having them converge at the center as in the weave illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The weft threads, in this instance, also pass alternately over two and under two warp threads. This weave has the advantage, making it particularly adapted to the purposes in hand, that it permits of excessive stretching both in the direction of the ribs I5 and in the direction of the opposite diagonal which is substantially at right angles to the ribs I5, both the ribs and the other preferred line of excessive elasticity being at substantially 4.5 degrees to the warp and to the weft threads which are substantially without elongation when the fab-ric is stretched on the bias as described to a suicient extent to cover the convex portions of thetop already referred to and without wrinkling or creasing.

Figure 4 illustrates on a highly magnified scale another weave in which the warp threads I 6, I1, I8 and I9 are passed each of them alternately over two and under two of the weft threads B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I. All of the weaves so far described are of the four-harness variety, the characteristics described being due to the control of the harness and, in this instance, the harness is so controlled that the protruding portions of the warp at I2 and I4, where they span the pairs of weft threads F G, G H, which portions of the warp compose the diagonal ribs in the fabrics previously described, are irregularly placed so that the fabric is not definitely ribbed. This difference may be explained as due to the diiferent shedding and hence the different laying of the weft.

This fabric, like those of Figures l, 2, and 3 has been described as consisting of warp and filling threads interwoven in such a manner that each warp thread passes alternately over two filling threads and then under two filling threads, this weave, as in the previous instances, being repeated throughout the length and width of the cloth. This fabric, however, has the variation of weave as compared to the previous ones that one filling thread; i. e., each alternate filling thread, as I G etc. in Figure 4, passes over two warp threads and then under two warp threads; and the next filling thread; i. e., each of the other alternate filling threads as H F etc. in Figure 4, is passed over one warp thread and then under one warp thread alternately across the width of the fabric, and the threads F and H are alternately repeated throughout the length of the fabric.

This fabric is another example of the fabrics which are adapted to the covering of vehicle top-s having convexedly curved corners curved in a plurality of intersecting transverse planes, in accordance with applicants invention, because of the fact that it has the quality of excessive elasticity in the direction of the diagonals; i. e., at or substantially at 45 degrees to the warp and weft threads, and that stretching in these directions; i. e., on the bias, is accomplished to the extent necessary for this purpose without noticeable elongation of the threads.

In all of these fabrics, while the number of threads spanned is designated as two threads, it is to be understood that the number of threads in the sets or pairs of threads spanned may be increased within reasonable limits if desired without departure from the invention.

Figure 5 illustrates in the manner already described still another fabric having similar characteristics. In this instance, the filling threads B, C, D, E, are passed alternately over two and under two of the warp threads 20, 2l 22, and 23, which are arranged alternately in pairs or sets of parallel warp threads 20-2I, and 22-23 etc., the weave described and shown fragmentarily being repeated throughout the length and width of the fabric as in each example described; and these pairs of warp threads pass alternately over one and under one filling thread B, C, D, etc.

This fabric, which may be further identied as a two-harness fabric, it having the filling threads passed alternately over two and under two warp threads, is within the broad definition of the fabrics which this inventor has discovered are particularly adapted to the covering of vehicle tops having sharply convex corner portions which are curved in a plurality of transverse intersecting planes, as planes at right angles to each other, and therefore substantially of the shape of a section of a spherical surface or approaching the same.

The arrangement of filling threads as described; i. e., passed alternately over two and under two of the warp threads, imparts to the fabric an excessive degree of elasticity in the direction of the diagonal lines referred to as at 45 degrees, or substantially 45 degrees, to both the warp and weft, for which reason it is adapted to be stretched over the convex or substantially spherical surfaces referred to, the term spherical being used to define in a general way a surface which is convexedly curved in two transverse planes intersecting each other and normal to said surface.

Figure 6 illustrates another example of the fabric having this property. In this instance, the weft threads B, C, D, and E are arranged in pairs of parallel threads illustrated by threads B C and D E, the threads of each pair being passed alternately overv and under two of the warp threads 24, 25, 26, and 2, the pair of filling threads B C being passed over the warp threads 26 and 21 and then under the warp threads 2t and 25, the weave being repeated indefinitely throughout the area of the fabric.

All of the figures so far described are purely diagrammatic, the filling threads particularly being shown asvstraight for convenience of illustration, and all being many times magnified.

This fabric (Figure 6) conforms to the above definition and to the requirements for a fabric which is found to meet the conditions presented in the covering of vehicle tops having sharply convex corners, and is well adapted to this purpose, having an excessive degree of elasticity in the direction of both diagonals at forty-live dee grees to the warp and weft, or substantially so, and hence on the bias.

Referring now to Figures rI and 8, the illustration shows in Figure 7 the upper portion of a trailer body 30 having a. one-piece top cover 3l which is stretched without wrinkling over the entire top 32 of the vehicle, the top illustrated being the top of a commercial form of trailer which has sharply convex rear corners 33 which may be referred to as embodying the corresponding sections of a spherical surface. These convex portions may be also described as convexedly curved in two flat planes which intersect substantially at right angles to each other and on a line normal to the surface of the top, such curves approaching the corresponding arc of a circle though not being essentially of uniform radius.

In covering such tops prior to the present invention, regular cotton duck of commercial quality was used, and in order to apply this material to the top without wrinkling it was found necessary to stretch it in place by means of a block and tackle or by other mechanical means, stretching it by hand over these curved portions, as at 33, without wrinkling being impossible. While it is known to be possible to lay such material flat over these curved portions by cutting and seaming, this is objectionable to the trade, seamless one-piece tops being required. Stretching by mechanical means is not only expensive but results in tearing and hence waste of the material.

It has been explained that in covering such a top there will be a marked tendency to wrinkle, forming wrinkles at the sides and back adjacent the curved portions 33, and it is an important accomplishment of the invention that such wrinkling and all wrinkling is avoided by covering the top with the woven material illustrated and stretching it in the manner described in connection with the types of material illustrated, particularly over the curved portions 33. While this has been accomplished with cotton duck by means of a power stretching device, as a block and tackle, it could not be accomplished by hand; but the laying of the top of the materials described and illustrated, is easily accomplished by hand with a great saving of time and expense and without excessive effort.

The preferred fabric of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has particular advantages as a top cover, the center warp l being laid preferably at or near the center line of the top as illustrated in Figure 8, the center line being indicated by reference character l4-|4' and corresponding to center line A, A in Figure 1.A

The ribs 5 and 5 are also indicated in Figure 8, it being understood, however, that in the actual fabric drawn to the scale of Figure 8 it would be impossible to illustrate these ribs, the showing at 5 and 5 in Figure 8 therefore being purely diagrammatic.

It is found that in stretching the fabric (Figure 3) in the direction of the` ribs I5, the warp threads 1, 8, 9, IU, I l are drawn more closely together, and in stretching this fabric on the opposite diagonal which is substantially at right angles to these ribs, the warp threads are drawn slightly apart. Due to this principle, the fabric (Figures l, 2, and 8) has the advantage that, the stretch being mainly in the direction of the ribs 5 on one rear corner 33 and in the direction of ribs 5 on the other rear corner 33', there is no separation of the warp in either instance. With the fabrics (Figures 4, 5 and 6) the stretch is taken up by the drawing together of the warp threads at some point in the weave and slight separation at other points in correspondence with the principles above set forth, the type of weave described having the common property of excessive elasticity on the bias and as to each diagonal direction at 45 degrees, or substantially 45 degrees to the warp and lling; so that the fabric is laid on the vehicle top forming a onepiece top cover which is stretched over the convex corners of the top which are curved in two intersecting planes normal to the top surface without wrinkling, and this stretching is performed with relatively slight tension and by hand. This is regarded as an important accomplishment, dispensing with the necessity for the previous practice of stretching by block and tackle or other mechanical device, as it effects an important saving of time and expense in the covering of such tops.

I have thus described specifically and in detail a one-piece fabric top covering for motor vehicles, particularly those having sharply concave curved portions .at the corners, and a method of covering such tops in accordance with my invention, the description being specific and in detail in order that the manner of construction,

. applying, operating, and using the invention may be fully understood; however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece fabric cover for vehicle tops having convex corner portions of relatively small radius curved in two intersecting planes normal to the surface of said top and at right angles to each other and approaching in contour a section of a spherical surface, the cover comprising woven fabric consisting of warp threads running longitudinally of the top and filling threads running transversely of the top, the threads running in either direction being passed alternately over and under respective pairs of threads extending at right angles thereto, the fabric being normally flat and being stretched and distorted to cover the convex portions and the remainder of the top without wrinkling said convex corner portion being seamless.

2. A one-piece fabric cover for a vehicle top, having corner portions curved in a plurality of planes normal to the surface of the top and at right angles to each other, the curvature of the cover closely approaching the contour of a section 'of a spherical surface, the fabric consisting of interwoven warp threads running longitudinally of the top and lling threads at right angles thereto, the threads running in one direction being passed alternately over and under respective groups of threads running transversely thereto, each group comprising a plurality of threads, the weave providing excessive elasticity of the fabric in two directions at 45 degrees to the warp and weft one of which extends longitudinally and the other transversely of the top,whereby the fabric which is normally flat is stretched in said 45 degrees direction and distorted to cover the convex portions without wrinkling the fabric covering said corner portions being seamless.

3. The method of covering a vehicle top having sharply convex corner portions curved in planes at right angles to each other and normal to the top surface, the curvature of the top cover approaching the curvature of a section of a spherical surface, which method consists in applying thereto a fabric composed of warp threads, and weft threads at right angles thereto, the threads running in one said direction being passed alternately over and under sets of parallel threads running in the direction at right angles thereto, the fabric having excessive elasticity in diagonal directions as to the warp and weft which warp and weft extend, one longitudinally and the other transversely of the top; and stretching the fabric in these diagonal directions to cover the convex corner portions and the remainder of the top without wrinkling the fabric the fabric covering said corner portions being seamless.

4. A top covering for a vehicle top having convex, smoothly-curved corners, said covering being in a single piece composed of longitudinal warp and transverse weft threads, the warp threads being passed alternately over two and under two of the weft threads, thus forming raised portions of the warp where they span the weft threads, said raised portions being arranged in alinement diagonally of the fabric forming diagonal ribs parallel to each other, the fabric having excessive elasticity in the direction of said ribs and in the direction of the opposite diagonals and being arranged with the Warp and weft one extending longitudinally and the other transversely of the top and being expanded over the convex portions of the top in the direction of said ribs and in the direction of the opposite diagonals which extend arcuately across said con- Vex portions the expanded fabric covering the convex corners and the remainder of the top without wrinkling the fabric at said corners being seamless.

5. A vehicle top covering for a vehicle top having convex corner portions curved in a plurality of planes intersecting on a line normal to the top, the cover being of woven fabric in a single piece composed of longitudinal warp and transverse weft threads one extending longitudinally and the other transversely of the top, the warp threads being passed alternately over two and under two of the weft threads forming raised portions of the warp where they span the weft threads, said raised portions being arranged in alinement diagonally, forming diagonal ribs, the diagonal ribs converging toward a center line extending in the direction of the warp and the fabric being arranged on the top of the vehicle with this center line running longitudinally of the top intermediately of the width thereof and the fabric being expanded in the direction of the length of said ribs as to the portion of the fabric covering the convex areas of the top at the corners over which said ribs extend in arcuate lines, the fabric at said corner portions being continuous and substantially seamless.

6. 'Ihe method of covering a vehicle top having sharply convex corner portions curved in a plurality of planes at right angles to each other and normal to the top surface, which method consists in applying thereto a fabric composed of warp threads and weft threads at right angles thereto, the threads running in one direction being passed alternately over and under successive sets of adjacent threads running in the direction at right angles thereto, the fabric having excessive elasticity in the directions at 45 degrees to the warp and weft which extend one longitudinally and the other transversely of the top, and stretching the fabric in said diagonal directions to cover the convex corner portions and the remainder of the top without wrinkling the fabric the covering at said corner portions being continuous and without seams.

JAMES EDWARD HOOPER. 

